Romantic Literature Principles The Principles included...
1. Individuality
Distinguished from its previous period, the focus shifted to individual expression and personal experiences rather than generalized opinions. People began to praise poetry for its imagination, invention, and the judgement of feelings and thoughts of the poet. Dreams and the unconscious mind were expressed in literature.
2. Supernatural
People began to explore the superstitions and mysteries in life. They also started to share personal and religious experiences with god, and dreams and the unconscious mind were utilized to express ideas and concepts. 3. Spirit of the Age
People began to release creative energy and become optimistic about the future. People often felt that it was a new beginning and they were capable of limitless possibilities. Poetry was widely known to help bring this spirit and act as "rescuers" in times of struggles and hardships.
4. Good relations with Nature
Being close with nature was believed to bring out the innate goodness people. Therefore, people began to take interest in nature, observing them and utilizing findings to aid them to solve problems in life. People began to also rely on instinct rather than set rules, emphasizing the idea of freedom.
"Lyrical Ballads" by William Wordsworth was one of the most popular romantic poetry of the time. His use of nature and connections with emotions, such as love, made a great contribution to the Romantic Period.
Here is an excerpt from William Wordsworth's "Lyrical Ballads" called "Lewti."
I saw a cloud of palest hue,
Onward to the moon it pass'd.
Still brighter and more bright it grew,
With floating colours not a few,
Till it reach'd the moon at last.
Then the cloud was wholly bright,
With a rich and amber light;
And so with many a hope I seek,
And with such joy I find my LEWTI;
And even so my pale wan cheek
Drinks in as deep a flush of beauty! This passage utilizes the moon, cloud, and colors of nature to express the beauty of the world as well as the joy and hope the speaker feels from these things. This poetry contributes to the principle of having good relations with nature and individuality.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was also a poet from the Romantic Period. Him and Wordsworth worked together and discussed about literature, life, and nature, inspiring each other to express their thoughts and feelings through poetry.
Here is one of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's numerous poems, "What Is Life" Resembles Life what once was held of Light, Too ample in itself for human sight ?An absolute Self--an element ungrounded-- All, that we see, all colours of all shadeIs very life by consciousness unbounded
And all the thoughts, pains, joys of mortal breath,A war-embrace of wrestling Life and Death Here, Coleridge expresses his thoughts on what he feels is the meaning of life, and how one should look at it. His personal theories of life and death contributes to the principles of individuality.
William Blake is an engraver, artist, poet, and author of the Romantic Period who at the time was regarded as a mad person, yet is praised for his original works today.
Here is an illustration from Blake's short book of poems called "The Vision of the Daughters of Albion"
This poem describes the story of a woman names Oothoon, who has sexual desires for a certain man, yet is raped by another. These sexual desires come from the unconscious mind and can be related to the supernatural principle of the Romantic Period.
The Principles included...
1. Individuality
Distinguished from its previous period, the focus shifted to individual expression and personal experiences rather than generalized opinions. People began to praise poetry for its imagination, invention, and the judgement of feelings and thoughts of the poet. Dreams and the unconscious mind were expressed in literature.
2. Supernatural
People began to explore the superstitions and mysteries in life. They also started to share personal and religious experiences with god, and dreams and the unconscious mind were utilized to express ideas and concepts.
3. Spirit of the Age
People began to release creative energy and become optimistic about the future. People often felt that it was a new beginning and they were capable of limitless possibilities. Poetry was widely known to help bring this spirit and act as "rescuers" in times of struggles and hardships.
4. Good relations with Nature
Being close with nature was believed to bring out the innate goodness people. Therefore, people began to take interest in nature, observing them and utilizing findings to aid them to solve problems in life. People began to also rely on instinct rather than set rules, emphasizing the idea of freedom.
"Lyrical Ballads" by William Wordsworth was one of the most popular romantic poetry of the time. His use of nature and connections with emotions, such as love, made a great contribution to the Romantic Period.
Here is an excerpt from William Wordsworth's "Lyrical Ballads" called "Lewti."
I saw a cloud of palest hue,
Onward to the moon it pass'd.
Still brighter and more bright it grew,
With floating colours not a few,
Till it reach'd the moon at last.
Then the cloud was wholly bright,
With a rich and amber light;
And so with many a hope I seek,
And with such joy I find my LEWTI;
And even so my pale wan cheek
Drinks in as deep a flush of beauty!
This passage utilizes the moon, cloud, and colors of nature to express the beauty of the world as well as the joy and hope the speaker feels from these things. This poetry contributes to the principle of having good relations with nature and individuality.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was also a poet from the Romantic Period. Him and Wordsworth worked together and discussed about literature, life, and nature, inspiring each other to express their thoughts and feelings through poetry.
Here is one of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's numerous poems, "What Is Life"
Resembles Life what once was held of Light, Too ample in itself for human sight ?An absolute Self--an element ungrounded-- All, that we see, all colours of all shadeIs very life by consciousness unbounded
And all the thoughts, pains, joys of mortal breath,A war-embrace of wrestling Life and Death
Here, Coleridge expresses his thoughts on what he feels is the meaning of life, and how one should look at it. His personal theories of life and death contributes to the principles of individuality.
William Blake is an engraver, artist, poet, and author of the Romantic Period who at the time was regarded as a mad person, yet is praised for his original works today.
Here is an illustration from Blake's short book of poems called "The Vision of the Daughters of Albion"
This poem describes the story of a woman names Oothoon, who has sexual desires for a certain man, yet is raped by another. These sexual desires come from the unconscious mind and can be related to the supernatural principle of the Romantic Period.